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Palgrave Macmillan

The Modernisation of the Republic of Korea Navy

Seapower, Strategy and Politics

  • Book
  • © 2019

Overview

Authors:
  1. Ian Bowers

    1. Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, Oslo, Norway

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  • Makes an important contribution to the literatures on East Asian naval modernisation, the Korean Peninsula and South Korean security policy
  • Examines how the Republic of Korea Navy is developing a strategy to respond to changes in North Korea’s threat profile while also managing the potential threat posed by China and great power competition in East Asia
  • Provides unique insights in to the maritime dimension of the US-South Korea alliance

Part of the book series: Critical Studies of the Asia-Pacific (CSAP)

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxi
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Ian Bowers
    Pages 1-22

  3. North Korea and Deterrence at Sea

    • Ian Bowers
    Pages 23-50

  4. To the Blue-Water

    • Ian Bowers
    Pages 51-79

  5. Force Modernisation and Integration

    • Ian Bowers
    Pages 81-108

  6. The United States and the ROKN

    • Ian Bowers
    Pages 109-139

  7. Creating a Naval Identity

    • Ian Bowers
    Pages 141-163

  8. Politics, Strategy and Naval Modernisation

    • Ian Bowers
    Pages 165-191

  9. Conclusion

    • Ian Bowers
    Pages 193-204

  10. Back Matter

    Pages 205-239
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Keywords

About this book

This book sheds light on one of the most under-studied but powerful navies in the world. Using a multifaceted approach, it examines how the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) has sought to transform itself from a coastal naval force focused solely on deterring North Korea to a navy capable of operating in the blue waters of East Asia and beyond. The project argues that peninsular and regional security dynamics, technological developments, the US-South Korea alliance and internal politics combine to inform and shape ROKN modernisation.  

Reviews

“The security situation in the Korean peninsula has been catapulted into the world's attention because of the urgent need to stop the North's nuclear programme. But this is just one part of the issue. South Korea's maritime policy is also of critical and growing importance, as it both reflects and helps shape the strategic context between the two Koreas and their allies, near and far. Yet this aspect of Korean security has been sadly neglected - until now, with the publication of Ian Bower's first rate and deeply expert review of the past present and future of the Navy of the Republic of Korea. At last this long-standing gap in the literature has been filled.” (Geoffrey Till, Professor, King’s College London, UK)

“In this ground-breaking book, Ian Bowers changes the way we look at Korean security. Drawing upon uncovered primary documents, Bowers shows how the modernisation of the South Korean Navy has been defined by the need to balance the North Korean military threat against the country’s international ambitions. In this innovative work, Bowers proves that the study of the navy is a journey into the complex links between South Korean politics, economics, and geopolitical conditions.” (Alessio Patalano, Reader in War Studies, King’s College London, UK)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, Oslo, Norway

    Ian Bowers

About the author

Ian Bowers is Associate Professor at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, Oslo, Norway.

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